This data item is only attached to parents/guardians in a family and indicates how many non-dependent children aged 15 years and over they have. It only applies to children who usually live in the same dwelling.

Unlike children under 15 years, non-dependent children over 15 years are part of the labour force survey and have their own records in the CURF. This data item counts the number of these records in the family and assigns them to the parent records

In a lone parent family, the number of dependent students are assigned to the lone parent or guardian record.

In a couple family, both parents/guardians have the number assigned to their records. For example, if both parents records indicate 1 non-dependent child, they have 1 non-dependent child together, not 1 for each parent (i.e. not 2 non-dependent children in the family).

Other members in the family, including the non-dependent children themselves, will be recorded as 'Not a parent / Not applicable.' Unrelated members in the household will also be recorded as 'Not a parent / Not applicable'